WASCAL Data Infrastructure

Data GAPS in West Africa

Data gaps in West Africa are significant. These include the rarity, lack, or unavailability of crucial data, limited information on existing data sources, and difficulty in accessing data collectors and providers due to weak visibility. Furthermore, the absence of well-defined data formatting and sharing policies, along with unspecified data licenses, hinders data utilization. The region often lacks suitable IT infrastructure to effectively convey, store, and process large and complex datasets. Moreover, the implementation of data platforms to support data initiatives and management remains limited. Finally, there is a significant gap in the dissemination of data and knowledge to both decision-makers and the general public.

Response: WASCAL Data Infrastructure

Multi-purpose infrastructure of hardware, software, network resources and Information Technology (IT) services set up by WASCAL to enable the collection, storage, management, discovery, access, sharing, and dissemination of primary and secondary research data related to environment and climate change within the West African region. 

Through the WASCAL Data Infrastructure (WADI), the Competence Centre is increasingly providing the following data services to governments, academic institutions, development and implementation agencies, and any other end users interested in climate data, storage, and computing services:

Open data source access for partner organizations and institutions.

Raw and value-added/processed data on climate, agriculture (e.g., high quality baseline data on soil organic carbon (SOC) and Green House Gases (GHG) emissions), health, renewable energy, education, environment, land use (land cover), water resources management, and migration.

Regional data storage facilities. 

Data mirroring and backup.

HPC access for large-scale computations and modelling.

[1] http://wascal-hydromet-net.org/

[1] http://160.226.184.10:8080/Aggregate.html#submissions/filter/

[1] https://wascal-dataportal.org/cov-clichange-app/

Located near Tanguiéta in Benin, the Dassari Basin is equipped with numerous hydro-meteorological sensors which have been collecting data since 2013. The basin is a portion of land identified and characterized by WASCAL in 2012 for its research work. It is located in the neighborhood of Materi in the Atacora district of Benin. Covering an area of 200 km², it has been delimited so that no external water enters it, and all its rivers converge towards the Pendjari park which is located completely downstream of the basin and which is thus considered to be its outlet. It has a little rugged relief which ensures a slow flow in the main rivers. As a result, the Dassari basin straddles the Pendjari park and a part of the neighborhoods of Materi and Tanguiéta. This gives the basin the advantage of having both a Controlled Occupation Zone and a disturbed area due to the vast array of anthropogenic activities by residents of the nearby villages.